Now, the passage felt more like a museum. The walls on both sides were lined with massive screens, each displaying different scenes. Everything was organized in chronological order, and Aurora had no power to change any of it. Seeing it unfold like this, she couldn’t help but murmur in awe, “This is honestly so cool.” It was like something straight out of a sci-fi movie—each screen was so vivid, it felt like she was actually there.
After realizing her mother hadn’t treated her father well, Aurora started focusing on those particular moments. And sure enough, her suspicions were confirmed. Grace really didn’t like William. No matter how well he treated her, even when he went overboard, her expression always remained distant. It was as if she didn’t care for him at all.
One screen showed a moment when William was holding her and asking Grace if she wanted to go to the amusement park with them, suggesting they take the kids out for some fun. But Grace didn’t even look up. She calmly kept tying Tessa’s hair, her voice gentle but indifferent. “I’ll stay home,” she said. “Tessa’s not feeling well. I’d rather stay and look after her.”
William’s face immediately shifted. He glanced at the confused little Tessa and looked visibly upset. But the anger only flickered for a moment before vanishing. Grace didn’t seem to notice. He forced himself to stay calm and nodded in agreement. But in the end, William didn’t take young Aurora to the amusement park either. Instead, he left her in her room with some dolls, telling her to play on her own. Back then, little Aurora had no idea why her father’s mood changed so suddenly.
She couldn’t understand why her mother always seemed to show extra care only toward her older sister. Was that sister really that close to Grace? With that thought, little Aurora waddled over to the kitchen counter on her short legs. She even dragged over a stool, her expression serious and determined. Climbing up, she peeked out toward the courtyard where Tessa and Grace were sitting, her heart filled with longing. She had no idea what she needed to do to win over Grace and William. All she knew was that she wanted to make something delicious for them. Maybe then they wouldn’t argue anymore? After all, they were both people she loved dearly. She didn’t want them to fight because of her.
Watching it all unfold, Aurora felt a deep ache welling up inside her. So, it turned out even back then, Grace already adored Tessa, which meant everything Aurora had worked so hard for all these years had been for nothing. In Grace’s eyes, maybe she really was just a joke. That thought made Aurora want to laugh, but the kind of laugh that carried more pain than humor. She watched the little girl on the screen try to cook, and her chest tightened.
Truthfully, her memories of her father had already grown faint. But what she did remember clearly was how strict Grace had been with her from a very young age. Smiles were rare. And when she was small, she used to stand by the kitchen window resting her chin on the sill, quietly watching Grace braid Tessa’s hair. She’d always envied that moment. She’d wanted pretty, neat braids too. Thinking of that, Aurora reached up and touched her own hair. It was just a ponytail now—crooked and messy.